Kubel Slamography

by B-Ville on May 17, 2010 11:43 AM EDT

Been a while since I posted anything here, but yesterday's grand-slam has me out of hibernation.

With yesterday’s grand-slam vs the Yanks, Kubel has at least one granny every year since returning from his knee injury in 2006 (6 total). Other than two in the middle innings against the White Sox in blow-out wins, they’ve come in some very big spots in the late innings of games:

2006 vs Red Sox (12th Inn, 1-2 deficit, 1 out vs Tavarez)
Extra inning walk-off – WPA .462

2007 vs White Sox (4th Inn. 8-4 lead, 1 out vs Garland)
A TD & extra point (7RBI) for Kubel in the 20-14 win – WPA .072

2008 vs White Sox (6th Inn. 7-3 lead, 2 out vs Masset)
Another one that doubled a lead vs White Sox – WPA .073

2008 vs Tigers (8th Inn. 1-1 tie, 2 out vs Cruceta)
Broke 1-1 tie in the 8th – WPA .418

2009 vs Angels (8th Inn. 7-9 deficit, 2 out vs Bulger)
Cycle completer, turned 2R deficit into 2R lead – WPA .678

2010 vs Yankees - (8th Inn, 2-3 deficit, 2 out vs Rivera)
Streak-breaker vs Sandman – WPA .589

Though it’s only third in terms of WPA, my favorite is still the walk-off vs the Red Sox. Kubel could have just as easily ended the game with a double-play for a loss. (plus I was at the game) Even though it was again in a big spot, for some reason I have no recollection of the one versus the Tigers. The rest of them I remember pretty clearly.

What’s your favorite Kube-Slam™? How about your favorite Twins Grand-Slam?

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the

Kubels first one I will always remember because that was the epic Santana/Schilling matchup. That was also in the beginning of that incredible run where the Twins only lost like twice in 30 days
yesterdays would be a solid second

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on May 17, 2010 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

Hopefully yesterday's Slam starts another run

My vote for favorite Kubel slam would be for the Yankee one with the Boston one second.
The Yankee slam was off the best closer the game has ever seen and against a team we haven’t beat in 12 games. Kubel has been struggling so far this season and to do that to an inside cutter on the road is incredible.
The Boston one was great and it did help start that magical run we had, but I have a hard time saying it was better because what happened after. We don’t know what will happen after this one. Will we start a similar run? Will this get Kubel back on track? Will it show us we can play with and BEAT the Yankees? This Grand Slam just has the potential to mean so much for this team.

by NYCisTwinsTerritory on May 17, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

That one against the Angels was pretty huge last year.

Dude has a talent for timely slams.

by Luke in MN on May 17, 2010 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

My fav is always the most recent

by clutterheart on May 17, 2010 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

or the one he hasnt hit yet.

by NYCisTwinsTerritory on May 17, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

But Jason Kubel always has a knock for coming through when it matters the most. Rivera is one of the best closers of all time and it shows. Very Rarely does Rivera give up a run, blow a save, or give up a grand slam. He did all three on Sunday.

by Jessy S on May 17, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I most vividly remember the one against the Red Sox

I was frustrated that the Sox had pulled ahead, and the moment ESPN showed the slam, I jumped into the air. Definitely one of the five best moments of the great 2006 run.

However, I feel the one yesterday eclipses it, and is thus Kubel’s best. In addition to the tremendous Yankee-itis, the game up to that point had played out like any other Yanks-Twins game. To reverse it like that, with two outs in the 8th against a guy with 51 straight saves at home and a paucity of grand slams given up in his career, was the greatest payback imaginable. I’ll be giddy about it for the rest of the week.

by MarshalltheIrish on May 17, 2010 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

I liked the Angels slam

because it completed Kubel’s cycle. Hopefully yesterday’s slam is the beginning of Jason Kubel’s turnaround.

"If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error." - John Kenneth Galbraith.

by 92 MPH Knuckleball on May 17, 2010 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

I liked the Angels one...

because most Angels fans are douchebags.

Worst fans in sports; Angels fans and USC football fans.

by DJSkillz on May 17, 2010 11:16 PM EDT reply actions

And they've got thundersticks and rally monkeys to prove it

It’s a tough one. The Boston slam was sweet cause it was a walk-off. The Angels slam was sweet cause I prolly won’t ever see a guy get a cycle on a granny again. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. But I’ll take Kube’s word for it. He said this one against Rivera was his biggest hit as a professional.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on May 17, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Not even close

Worst fans a Philadelphia Eagles fans. Who else throws snowballs at Santa? In baseball, I give that (dis)honor to yanqui fans.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Kubel smashed it." -Jesse

by less cowbell, more 'neau on May 18, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

c'mon

We still aren’t over the Santa episode, that was decades ago and not even top 5 in terms of worst things those fans have done. Snowballs at Jimmy Johnson, the flaregun, cheering the end of Irvin’s career, etc.
I live in Philly and agree Eagles fans are some of the worst fans out there but by all accounts that Santa was a drunken idiot (think worse than “Bad Santa”) and was asking for it.

btw I am NOT an Eagles fan.

by Disorderly Conduct on May 19, 2010 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Yankees first, Tigers second

Those were the only two I saw live, and they were both important grand slams on the road in the 8th inning that not only put us in the lead but sealed the game. I recall the slam against the Tigers vividly because the Tigers were close to us in the standings (I can’t remember who was in first place), and the Twins had been struggling on the road. It was the rubber game on a Sunday afternoon, and that slam was also with two outs, which has a way of making the situation feel even more dramatic.

by Sheldon on May 18, 2010 7:56 AM EDT reply actions

Versus Red Sox is my favorite

That was probably the second best game I’ve ever been to. I remember watching that ball—it did not look like it was going out, and then it just keep going and going… and just barely went over the top of the baggy. I told my mom when we were leaving, “that’s it! We’re going to win every game from now on!” And then the Twins practically did. That was the turning point to a great, great season.

I was just thinking about that on Sunday, wondering if it had been on the same day in May. The Red Sox grand slam was on 13th; the Yankees grand slam was on the 15th!

Jason Kubel loves coming up like that in big spots.

"It may be cloudy in my right eye, but the sun is shining very brightly in my left eye." - Kirby Puckett

by myjah on May 18, 2010 11:43 AM EDT reply actions